Family Comes to Visit!

Two weekends ago Rosie and Kyle came up to see Mom and we got to enjoy them for a couple of days and then Kacie went back with them for a week during her spring break. I was going to go pick her up last Thursday but then Reid surprised us when he said they were going to visit for the weekend. He offered to pick Kacie up and bring her home for us.

Kacie said she had a great time in Utah. She got to go to BYU to see Kyle's science fair project and bought a really cute BYU t-shirt at the bookstore. They also found a really cute sweatshirt for Mom for her birthday. Kacie did more shopping at the outlet mall in Park City where she found a really cute dress, sweater and a couple of t-shirts. She also had fun just hanging out with her cousins and helping Rosie.

Reid's family spent Thursday night with Rosie and then they got here around 4:30 on Friday. We had some great panini sandwiches and I made peanut butter bars for dessert. Later in the evening we watched Disney's Earth and just enjoyed visiting. Saturday we watched some conference but then we went to pick up Brandon so Laura, Kacie, Hanna, Teniele I did a little shopping before we got there. In the evening all the men went to the Priesthood session of conference and then they went out to eat. (I'm sure Dad and Reid felt like the good old times.) We made some yummy tacos for us. We recorded the Final Four for the men to watch when they got back.

Sunday we attempted to all watch conference together. I bought a bunch of different candy and we put it out in 9 bowls and then we labeled them with words they might hear from conference. Once they heard the word they could take candy from that bowl. I think the kids had a lot of fun. It may have not be the most reverent activity but we knew they were listening. They probably won't remember anything from conference but I know they will always have that memory of conference together with cousins eating candy. After the morning session a bunch of them went to see Anita. I stayed to help clean up and get ready for our dinner. Mom stayed to sleep because she had not been feeling well all weekend. I think she had the stomach flu and then Sadie and Brady got it later in the afternoon so that kind of spoiled some of the fun. We had dinner around 5pm and Scott made some delicious ribs on the treager and I made my yummy flat belly dessert in the trifle bowl.

Sidenote: We all know how much Brady loves waterfalls and when Brady was throwing up he said, "Look Mom! I'm making a waterfall!" It was so gross, but so funny!

Watching conference...aka guarding the candy, lol!
Visiting Aunt Anita!

Even Brandon and Brady wanted to go...
Brandon was very pleasant and enjoyable to have this weekend. I took him back Monday morning because I had to go to his IEP at the school anyway. I met his new teacher, Linda Diana. She was really nice. I think she is really good with the kids. She is trying to find some kind of work skill that Brandon would like. After our meeting I hung out with Brandon for a little while in his classroom. Reid's family also went home this morning. It was great to see them too! It was a really nice weekend except for those that got sick.

Brady's Citizenship Award

Brady got another award at school.

I think it is so cute how Brady tries to hide when he is feeling shy. I was really bummed I couldn't be there to see him get his award, but thank heavens for Grandmas to help fill in. What would we do without the support from family.

Way to go Brady! We love you!

Scott is 43 & Taylor is 11

Yesterday we had Scott's family plus Mom, Dad and Teniele over to celebrate Scott and Taylor's birthdays. We had a delicious meal that Scott cooked on his Treager. He did tri-tip and chicken. It was so good it melted in your mouth. Everyone has been trying to eat more healthy so we decided to make a new health conscious dessert. Scott was a little nervous about it but I think everyone liked it. The chocolate cake mix had only Greek yogurt and water added. The cream layer was ricotta cheese, coconut milk, agave & roasted coconut. Then it had a layer of roasted oats, pecans & flaxseed and a mixed berries layer of strawberries, raspberries and blackberries.

It was so nice to see Mom out and about after her knee surgery. She looks really good but still struggles with the pain. She is coming home for good today from the rehab hospital. Yeah!

We also loved having Scott's grandma with us. It had been a while since she was able to come out. I still can't believe she will turn 100 on May 2nd. She looks so good and still living alone, simply amazing!

We gave Taylor eleven balloons with a dollar bill in each one. It was pretty fun watching her pop them to get her money out. Scott got some hunting stuff, money, nike shoes, treager pellets and the kids and I gave him a panini grill and Adele live at the Royal Albert Hall blu-ray. It was a nice day!

Last Weekend...

Friday the kids normally don't have school but because March 2nd was Dr. Seuss' birthday a lot of the kids that wanted went to school for a pajama day and read books. Brady had so much fun, he keeps asking when they can have another pajama day.

After we dropped him off, we went to Brandon's annual review with his home. He seemed pretty much the same. We are currently working on becoming his legal guardian through the state, I think it is pretty ridiculous you have to go to court and pay an attorney to do that. I still can't believe he is in a group home and that it has been two years already. After our meeting we took him to lunch at the Westside Drive-in. Their food is so good. Brandon then wanted a blizzard from Dairy Queen. It took us a while before we could walk him back in the house. We just sat out in the car listening to music. It so fun to listen to Brandon sing.

Later in the evening we went over to see Mom and Anita. Mom had replacement knee surgery on Tues Feb. 28th and she decided to go into the Presbyterian Rehab facility for a couple of weeks. It is not fun to see her in so much pain or so nauseated. We are all hoping that with all the extra therapy and help she will be able to recover faster.

Saturday I spend a lot of time with Mom and Anita while the kids hung out with their cousins at Stacie's. We played some games and I worked on some handouts for my Primary class while they were doing therapy. Scott went to the sportsmen show to see Ron's presentation on coyote hunting. I had to leave around 4:30 so I could pick up some pizza to deliver to a lady in our ward that had a baby. On our way home we picked up Jocie for the night while her parents were out of town. These pictures are some of the crazy things they did...What a weekend!

Introducing Tyson Kent Talbot

Tyson was born January 15, 2012 around 11am. He weighed 5 lbs 13 oz and was 19 inches long. Yesterday he was given a name and a blessing by his father, Ron. Saturday Ryan was also baptized and confirmed by his father. It was a special weekend for their family.

After church we visited with Anita for a little bit then we went to Scott's parents house for a wonderful dinner and then stayed to watch the SuperBowl. The Giants won 21 to 17 over the Patriots. I was happy but not everyone in our group was. Kacie went to McCall with Jocie on Saturday and got back late Sunday night. She had a blast, they played in the snow saw all the snow sculptures and watched the game also. She couldn't stop talking about all the fun they had when she got home. Oh and I forgot to mention we managed to buy a new car on Saturday. We decided that our 2007 Acura TL that we had for only seven months was just too expensive for us to own so we traded it in on a 2012 Honda Civic.

Kacie's YW's New Beginnings

We had a special evening at the Owyhee Ward's New Beginnings on January 25, 2012. The theme was Fireworks and the YW leaders did an amazing job. It sure put all the stuff that we did while in YW's to shame. The girls did a really cool impromptu dance to Katy Perry's Fireworks song. I was so proud of Kacie for doing it too. Donna, Sharon & Tara spoke along with a couple of the girls and Bishop Hartley and Jen Nelson from the stake YW's. Tami also sang a song. They all did great.

There is seven new girls coming into young women's this year and I think five are graduating. Kacie is currently the Beehive President.

I was so happy Tara had a camera because it didn't even cross my mind to bring one. I was also glad that Scott was able to make it because his basketball game got done early and he wasn't feeling well.
YW leaders: President Donna Suell, Brett Wagstaff, Kia Bowns, Rebecca Hansen, Tara Rushton, Michelle Dudley and Sharon Berrett (Kacie's leader).

Kacie Helps Make A Wish Foundation

We just got word Tuesday Jan 10, 2012, on how Kacie's artwork did for a fundraiser for the Oregon Make-A-Wish Foundation. Back in September they asked if Kacie would draw a picture from her Make A Wish trip. Well they liked it so much that hers was selected to be framed and sold at an auction. Her artwork made $300. We were pretty excited! Way to go Kacie!